THE search for the Essex lion has been called off – but a group of big-game hunters last night recaptured the pride of Dumfries.

And the pussycats of Hibs came unstuck in their first cup tie since that fateful day at Hampden three months ago.

It was a bunch of Jambos who again turned the screw as former Hearts favourites Allan Johnston, now boss at Queens, and assistant Sandy Clark oversaw a deserved victory for the classy Second Division side.

To add to Hibee woes, it was Clark’s son Nicky who fired his team towards the third round with the early opener before sub Gavin Reilly doubled their lead three minutes from half-time.

Queens were a joy to watch and a credit to Johnston’s passing philosophy, with winger Danny Carmichael involved in both goals and the game’s stand-out performer.

But Hibs boss Pat Fenlon will know he called this game wrong as he rested a string of regulars including skipper James McPake, David Wotherspoon, Eoin Doyle and Alan Maybury.

Despite the absentees Hibs looked sharpest early on with Shefki Kuqi making his first start in attack alongside Leigh Griffiths.

The pace of Griffiths was a threat but he was caught cold in 10 minutes when a shot across the six-yard box from Jorge Claros fell to him and his snatched effort hit the bar.

Hibs were made to suffer two minutes later when Queens took the lead – and Pa Broon would have turned quicker than Hibs full-back Pa Kujabi when he was caught on the hop by a ball down the right wing from Derek Lyle to Danny Carmichael.

The winger sped to the byeline and his delightful low cross was met at the front post by Clark, who nipped in front of Sean O’Hanlon to fire a shot past Ben Williams from close range.

Hibs tried to hit back and Kuqi let rip with a 30-yard effort easily held by Lee Robinson.

But it was Queens who came closest to scoring again 10 minutes from half-time.

Queen of the South striker Nicky Clark celebrates after opening the scoring

Daniel Orsi’s pass picked out Clark, who took a great touch beyond O’Hanlon to go one on one with Williams. He struck his shot from 16 yards sweetly enough but it flew inches past.

Hibs were rattled but Griffiths should have done better moments later than shoot wildly over the top after he was played in down the left by Claros.

They were to rue that miss three minutes from the interval when Queens added a second with an almost identical goal to the first.

This time Chris Mitchell caught Kujabi napping with a pass in behind as Carmichael again made hay down the right before crossing for Reilly to escape O’Hanlon and nod past Williams from close range.

The appearance of Wotherspoon and Maybury at the start of the second half for Callum Booth and Kujabi failed to inject urgency into Hibs.

Queens still looked the most dangerous side and Reilly almost snatched a second when he cut in from the right only for his drive to be deflected over.

Clark then found space in the box and knocked another header off a fine delivery from Carmichael over the bar.

And it took a last-gasp tackle by O’Hanlon on Reilly to stop the Queens striker making it 3-0.

The introduction of Doyle for Kuqi finally livened Hibs up and Paul Cairney came close with a shot that spun off Derk Young and just over the top.

O’Hanlon rose at the back post to connect with the resulting corner from Griffiths but his header hit the roof of the net.